Expansion joint for concrete pavements



Feb. 13, 1940. J T, HALLETT 2,189,861

EXPANSION JOINT FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS Filed Feb. 13, 1937 I N VENTOR.

James 7 d/elleflq BY ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE I EXPANSION JOINT FOR CONCRETE H i PAVEMENTS James T. Hallett, Indianapolis, Ind. Application February 13, 1937;Serial No, 125,529 A .11 C aims. (01. 94-15;) i F a The present application relates to expansion joints for concrete pavements, and the like:

the form illustrated in the accompanying draw ing, attention being .called to the fact, however,

that the drawing is illustraitveonly, and that change may be made in the specific construction:-

illustrated anddescribed, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In said drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a joint constructed in accordance with my invention, the plane of the figure extending longitudinally of the roadway; j l

g Fig. 2 is a fragmental planview of a loadtransfer element constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevation of the metalplate forming a part of theorganization of my 35 invention. 7 a I Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the reference numerals l and 2 indicate the end portions of adjacent blocks one surface of the plate 3. It will. be clear that 1, all of the tongues 4 of this series lie substarn x 2;; tially in a common, plane; and, as is shownin Fig. 1, the free endsof those tongues are curled upwardly as at 5. the tongues 4 of this series are curled substantially about a common axis.

A second series of tongues 6 is punched out of the body of the plate 3, and these tongues project upwardly and outwardly; from the opposite, face The tongues 5 of the second of the plate 3. series lie substantially in a common plane, and

'45 their free ends are downwardly curled as at l;

preferably substantially about a common axis.

In order to permit expansion of the concrete blocks, I interpose between the faces of the plate 3 and the adjacent blocks. land 2, layers to, of suitable plastic or compressiblematerial, such as is familiar to those acquainted with this art; Preferably, these layers of material are preliminarily secured to the plate faces. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention,'a layer 55 8 of such material is applied to that face of the filled, in" accordance with standard practice, with W Preferably, the ends of all of a plate 3 from which project the tongues 6, said layer extending from the upperedge 9 of the plate toward the lower edge I!) thereof toa line near that from which the tongues 6 spring. A second layer. ll of such material isapplied to 5 the opposite face lofthe plate, extendingfrom the lower edge 10 of the plate toward the upper edge 9 thereof to a line near that from which the tongues 4 spring. Obviously, both layers will extend from end to end of the plate 3; and,

since they overlap, as is clearly shown in Fig. l,

they cooperate to closethe, openings l2 formed in the body of the plate by punching outthe tongues 41 and 6.

In use, the plate13, with the layers 8 and H, T5

is positioned on the foundation l6 for the paveinent before the blocks [and 2 are poured. Ob: viously, as theconcreteblocks are poured, the

tongues t are solidly embedded in the block I, t while the'tongues B are solidly embedded in the '20:

block 2. Preferably, the upper adjacent edges of the two blocks will be shaped, as shown, to provide a groove which is preferably partially a suitable plastic filler as fat 13. l

It will be clear that'y-after the blocks I and {2 have set and hardened, a load applied to the block I will place-the tong'ues 4 in tension, whereby the plate 3, intermediatethe tongues 4 andt, will be placed in compression saidplatefiio being ofsufiicient vertical rigidity to transmit the load, by placing the tongues 6 in tension, to

the block 2. Conversely, a load applied to the block 2 will place the tonguesfi in compression, whereby .the plate 3, intermediate the tongues 4 and 5, will be placed in tension to transmit the load, by placingthe tongues 4 in compression, to the block If desired, a metal rod l4 may be associated with the curled ends 5 of the tongues 4 ofone "40,

seriesfand a metal rod l5 may be associated withthe curled ends 'I' of the tongues 6 of the other serieslf This arrangement somewhat stiffehs the assembly and tends to distribute.

loads uniformlythroughoutthe whole of either series. 5 While Iconsider such an arrangement to have certain advantages, I do not consider it asan essentialto the successful practice of myinvention; l 1

Obviously, as awheeled vehicle approaches, x crossessand then leaves the joint of my inven tion,the two series of tongues and the plate body are placed in alternate tension and compression, whereby maximum use is made of the strength of the metal. I consider the joint of my invention to be applicable only to joints of small dimensions, and believe that it will func tion satisfactorily only if total relative movement of' the adjacent ends of blocks I and 2 is oneeighth of an inch or less; and therefore l believe that successive joints should be spaced from each other not more than approximately ten feet.

It will be clear, from aconsideration of the disclosureof the present application that, contrary to ordinary practice the load transfer portion of the joint of the present application adjusts itself to expansion, contraction, and curling conditions of the pavement slabs by'ilex ing of the tongues 4 and/or 6. flowing from such an arrangement, as compared with previously known arrangements in which there is a slidingengagement between elements of the load transfer device,'will be entirely obvious. I-- claim as my invention:

1. An expansion joint element for between adjacentpouredblocks of concrete pavements,

and the like, comprising a relatively. rigid metal plate capable of taking vertical compression and adapted to be positioned on edge-between such adjacent blocks, said plate being formed, adjacent its upper edge, with a plurality of tongues, punched out of the bodyof the plateand projecting downwardly outwardly from one face of the plate and sdapted t'o be'embedded in one of blocks,

and, adjacent its lower edge witlo a plurality of tongues, punched out of the body ofthe plate and projecting upwardly and outwardly from other race of said plate and adapted to be embedded in the other of said blocks, a layer of compressible material associated with'the firstinentioned face of said plate and extending from the lower edge thereof toward upper edge, layer of compressible material associated with the second-mentioned of said plate and nding from the upper edge thereof toward the lo :er id layers overlapping to close the openings formed by punching out said tongues.

2. An expansion joint for concrete. pavements and the like, comprising twoadjacent pavement blocks, a metal plate disposed. between said blocks. and meanscarried by said plate endembedded in said respective blocks for transmitting load strains from one of said blocks to the other,

said

ans being placed in tension said plate in compression to transmit load from one of said blocks to the other, and said means being placed incompression and said plate in tension totransnut-load from said other block to said one-block.

An expansion joint for'concretepavements and the like, comprising two adjacent pavement blocks, a substantially vertically rigid metal plate disposed between said blocks, a seriesof tongues projecting downwardly and outwardly from one face of said plate, disposed substantially in a common plane, and embedded in one of said blocks, and a series of tongues projecting uptially vertical compressive loads, a series of The advantages tongues projecting downwardly and outwardly from one face of said plate, disposed substantially in a common plane, and embedded in one of said blocks, and a series of tongues projecting upwardly and outwardly from the other face of said plate, disposed substantially in another common plane, and embedded in the other of said blocks, the free ends of said first series of tongues being upwardlycurled, and the free ends of said second of tongues being downwardly curled.

5. A load-transfer expansion joint unit for use between adjacent poured blocks of concrete pavements, and the like, comprising a relatively rigid-metal plate capable of taking compression in the direction of its vertical dimension and adapted to be positioned on edge between such adjacent blocks and presenting to each of said blocks a single plane surface extending from its top edge to its bottom edge, said plate being formed, adjacent its upper edge, with a plurality oi tongues projecting downwardly and outwardly from its one face and adapted to be embedded in one of said blocks, and, adjacent its lower edge with a plurality of tongues projecting upwardly and outwardly from its other face adapted to be embedded in the other of said blocks.

5. A load-transfer expansion joint unit for use between adjacent poured blocks of concrete pavements, a d the like, comprising a relatively rigid metalplate capable of taking compression in the direction oi its vertical dimension and adapted to positioned on edge between such adjacent blocks and presenting to each of said blocks a single plane surface extending from its top edge to its, bottom edge, said plate being formed, adjacent its upper edge, witha plurality of tongues bent from the plane of said plate about a horizontal axis and projecting downwardly and outwardly from its one face and adapted to be embedded in one of said blocks, and, adjacent its lower edge with a plurality of tongues bent from the plane of said plate about a horizontal axis and projecting upwardly and outwardly from its other face and adapted to be embedded in the other of said blocks.

'1. A load-transier expansion joint unit for use between adjacent poured blocks of concrete pavements, and the like, comprising a relatively rigid metal. plate capable of taking compression in the in another common plane angularly relatedto the plane of said plate and projecting upwardly and outwardly from its other face and adapted to be embedded in the other of said blocks.

8. A load-transfer expansion joint unitforuse v between adjacent poured blocks of concrete pavements, and the like, comprising a relatively rigid metal plate capable of taking compression in the ir'ection of its vertical dimension and adapted to bepositioned on edge between such adjacent blocks and presenting to each of said blocks-a single plane surface extending from its top edge to its bottom edge, said plate being formed, ad-

, jacent itsupper edge, with a plurality of tongues spaced longitudinally of said plate and projecting downwardly and outwardly from its one face and adapted to be embedded intone of said blocks, and, adjacent its lower edge with a plurality of tongues spaced longitudinally of said plate and projecting upwardly and outwardly from its other face and adapted to be embedded in the other of said blocks.

9. A load-transfer expansion joint unit for use between adjacent poured blocks of concrete pavements, and the like, comprising a metal plate positioned on edge between such adjacent blocks, said plate being relatively rigid vertically to bear and transmit compressive substantially Vertical loads, and said plate being provided with anchorage elements in two series, one series of anchoring elements being secured to said plate adjacent and transmit compressive substantially vertical loads, and said plate being provided with anchorage elements in two series, one series of anchoring elements being secured to said plate adjacent the upper edge thereof and inclining downwardly and outwardly therefrom and embedded in one of said blocks, and the other series being secured to said plate adjacent the lower edge thereof and inclining upwardly and outwardly therefrom and embedded in the other of said blocks, said plate being free from attachment to said blocks between said respective blocks, said strip being provided with a plurality of fins projecting from a level adjacent the upper surface of the pavement downwardly and outwardly and embedded in one 

